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Epigenetic control of gene expression in leukemogenesis: Cooperation between wild type MLL and MLL fusion proteins

Erica Ballabio1, Thomas A Milne1

  • 1MRC Molecular Hematology Unit; Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine; University of Oxford ; Oxford, UK.

Molecular & Cellular Oncology
|June 17, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic drugs offer new hope for treating aggressive leukemias. Research into Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) gene mutations is yielding targeted therapies with potential for broader cancer applications.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cancer treatments, particularly for leukemias, face challenges with drug resistance.
  • Epigenetic drugs, targeting reversible molecular changes, are a promising therapeutic avenue.
  • Understanding epigenetic alterations at the molecular level is crucial for developing new cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of epigenetic drugs in treating aggressive acute leukemias caused by Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) gene mutations.
  • To highlight how molecular analysis of MLL leukemias has informed the development of early-stage epigenetic drugs.
  • To propose further research into MLL leukemogenesis for wider cancer treatment applications.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on epigenetic drugs and MLL leukemias.
  • Analysis of molecular details of epigenetic changes in MLL leukemogenesis.
  • Focus on small molecule inhibitors targeting epigenetic proteins.

Main Results:

  • Detailed molecular analysis of MLL leukemias has identified targets for epigenetic drug development.
  • Several early-stage epigenetic drugs have emerged from research on MLL leukemias.
  • Epigenetic drugs show potential for treating cancers resistant to conventional therapies.

Conclusions:

  • MLL leukemogenesis research provides valuable insights for developing targeted epigenetic therapies.
  • Further study of MLL leukemias may uncover molecular details applicable to a wider range of human cancers.
  • Epigenetic drugs represent a significant advancement in cancer treatment, especially for resistant leukemias.
Keywords:
MLLacetylationchromatin modificationsepigeneticfusion proteinshistoneleukemiamethylationsmall molecule inhibitorstherapytranscription elongation

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